Case Study: Highland Park Education Foundation achieves faster, fairer scholarship applications with SmarterSelect

Highland Park Education Foundation drastically improves their application process with SmarterSelect

Highland Park Education Foundation, a fundraising entity that supports the Highland Park School District and manages a robust scholarship program, struggled with a fully manual, paper-based application process that consumed roughly 1,000 total hours and required extensive staff time. Seeking a streamlined online solution, the foundation turned to SmarterSelect to modernize its applications and selection workflow.

SmarterSelect implemented a web-based application management system that automates eligibility filtering, hides identifying student information for fair, blind review, and centralizes messaging and document storage. As a result, Highland Park Education Foundation drastically reduced reviewer time (from about 100 hours per evaluator to a maximum of 15 hours), improved transparency and equity, and enhanced applicant communications and overall efficiency with SmarterSelect.

Highland Park Education Foundation

Lauren Holloway

Executive Director